Male headship was established at creation. Read or listen to this chapter from Your Marriage God’s Way to learn what it means that "the husband is head of the wife" (Ephesians 5:23 and 1 Corinthians 11:3). Table of ContentsMale Headship Began at CreationGod's First Command Helped Establish Male HeadshipAdam Names the Animals and Eve Demonstrating Male HeadshipHistory's First SurgeryEgalitarianism Versus ComplementarianismEgalitarianism Is UnbiblicalComplementarianism Is BiblicalHusbands and Wives Are Better Together Soon after I became a Christian in my early twenties, a pastor’s daughter told me what she wanted in a husband: a man who would be a spiritual leader and the head of their home. I hardly knew anything about the Bible at this point, so everything she said sounded odd to me. I didn’t object until she started talking about wives submitting to their husbands. That’s when I thought she had gone too far. Sadly, I vividly remember saying, “That is ridiculous! Men and women are equal. How could a husband have authority over his wife?” I was in for a shock as I started reading the Bible and learning what it says about husbands and wives. Verses kept jumping out at me that supported what the pastor’s daughter said. If you’re unfamiliar with the Bible’s teaching on marriage, or you believe like I did that husbands and wives have identical roles and responsibilities, you might be in for a shock too. God has a master design for marriage relationships that has very definite purposes and benefits. We live in a culture that is far removed from the beauty and brilliance of God’s plan. While we as fallen people might initially chaff at the ideas of male headship and submission (as I did), and believe it means men and women aren’t equal (as I did), because we live in a society that insists everyone should be viewed identically, it’s important to recognize that in God’s eyes and according to His design, yes, husbands and wives have equal value (more on this later in the chapter), but they have different roles and responsibilities. Let’s ease into the delicate subjects of headship and submission by considering that twice in the New Testament the apostle Paul stated the headship of a husband: “I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God” (1 Corinthians 11:3). “The husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body” (Ephesians 5:23). Male Headship Began at Creation While these verses are found in the New Testament, that doesn’t mean a husband’s headship had its beginning under the new covenant. Neither did his male headship have its beginning in the Old Testament under the old covenant. Nor did it begin at the fall. The husband’s headship has its beginning at creation itself. This is important for us to know, because if we think headship began after the fall, then this leadership becomes part of sin’s curse. But if we understand that the husband’s headship began at creation, we will see it as part of God’s natural, healthy, divine plan for husbands and wives. Genesis 1:1 proclaims the incredible truth that “in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” and the rest of the chapter gives a grand overview of all six days of creation. God created man and woman on the sixth day. Then, in Genesis 2:7-25, God zooms in on the creation of Adam and Eve because mankind is the pinnacle of God’s creation. We are so familiar with the account that it is easy to miss the significance of some of the details. Therefore, let’s approach this passage as though we are reading it for the first time. It is in this account that God established male headship. Because God created the animals in pairs, male and female, what would we expect Him to do with the creation of humankind? We would expect Him to create the first man and woman at the same time—as a pair, male and female.

22m

Dec 26, 2022

Christian couples wonder how to have a lasting Christ centered marriage. Read or listen to this chapter from Your Marriage God’s Way to learn how to have a marriage centered on God. Table of ContentsYour Marriage Reflects your Relationship with ChristJesus Deserves Your ObedienceTrust the Holy Spirit to Help You have a Christ-Centered MarriageA Holy-Spirit Filled MarriageWe Cannot Just Sit BackWhat Might It Look Like for the Holy Spirit to Help Us?The Encouraging Balance When Striving to Have a Christ Centered Marriage A few years ago, Katie and I faced the biggest crisis of our marriage. I started pastoring Woodland Christian Church when it was small, but within three years the congregation tripled in size. I admit that before I became a pastor, I was unaware of how much work is involved in shepherding a church of even a few hundred people. I had been an Army officer, a supervisor at a distribution center for a major retail chain, and an elementary school teacher. But none of those occupations approached the amount of mental and emotional energy and sheer hard work pastoring entails! Almost all my waking hours were packed with studying, teaching, counseling, making phone calls, sending emails, attending meetings, addressing administrative responsibilities, and tending to benevolence issues. When I was at home, where I should have been an engaged father and husband, I did not have much left for my family mentally, emotionally, or physically. Although I was failing as a husband and father, I was able to convince myself I was still pleasing the Lord. I compartmentalized my life by saying, “I am a Christian first. I am a spouse second. I am a parent third. I am an employee fourth.” Instead, I should have said, “I am a Christian spouse. I am a Christian parent. I am a Christian employee.” The danger of seeing ourselves as Christian servants first and spouses second is we can find ourselves believing the lie I bought into at the time: “If I can be a good pastor, I can please God even though I am not the best husband.” The truth is that I was a poor husband, and I should have recognized that meant I was not pleasing the Lord. Your Marriage Reflects your Relationship with Christ The reason we cannot please the Lord while failing as a husband or wife is that our Christianity is directly related to the way we treat our spouses. Our marriages are outpourings of our relationships with Christ: In Matthew 7:16, Jesus asked, “Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?” In James 3:11-12, the apostle James asked, “Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?” The point of these verses is that we reveal our Christianity by the way we live. As Jesus clarified: “You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16). And right living—or right fruit—can only be produced through a strong relationship with Christ. Because our relationships with our spouses are our most important earthly relationship, what we are as spouses reflects what we are as Christians. Later, we will discuss this in greater depth as we look at the Christ centered marriage passage in Ephesians 5:21-33, but for now, let’s look at the two key commands in Scripture that give us God’s own standard for marriage: Ephesians 5:25—“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her.” Ephesians 5:22—“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” Because these commands are from the Lord, our obedience to them affects the kind of relationship we have with Christ. Think of it this way: There is no such thing as a spiritually mature man who does not love his wife. Nor a spiritually mature woman who does not submit to her husband: A husband cannot love Christ without loving his wife. A wife cannot submit to Christ without submitting to her husband.

16m

Dec 22, 2022

What produces godly repentance? The account of the rich man and Lazarus reveals what does not and does produce godly repentance. Miracles do not produce godly repentance. Scripture (Moses and the Prophets) does produce godly repentance. Table of contentsFamily Worship GuideSermon NotesLesson One: Godly repentance allows people to avoid the rich man’s fate.Lesson Two: Being Abraham’s descendant is no substitute for repentance.Lesson Three: Miracles don’t produce godly repentance.Lesson Four: Scripture can produce godly repentance. https://youtu.be/Yj5KXyAF2fE What produces godly repentance? Miracles do not produce godly repentance, but Scripture (Moses and the Prophets) does. Family Worship Guide Directions: Read the following verses and then answer the questions: Day 1: Luke 3:7-9, 16:30, Romans 2:28-29, Galatians 3:7, John 8:32-4 cf. Luke 16:24, 27, 30: Why did the rich man want Lazarus to visit his brothers? How did Abraham respond and why did he respond that way? Why did many Jews think it was guaranteed they would go to heaven? Day 2: Luke 16:31, Exodus 12:30, Hebrews 4:19, Judges 6:21, 36-40, 7:10, Matthew 11:20, John 2:23-25, 6:2, 66, 11: 53, John 12:10, 37, Acts 4:16-18, 2 Corinthians 12:12, Hebrews 2:1-4, Acts 8:5-6: Why don’t miracles produce godly repentance? Can you think of any miracles in Scripture that seemed to produce faith or repentance? What are some miracles in Scripture that were not mentioned in the sermon that did not produce repentance or faith? Day 3: Luke 16:31, John 6:63, James 1:18, 1 Peter 1:23, Jonah 4:4-5, 2 Kings 22:11, Acts 1:15, 2:40-41, 4:4: Why is Scripture able to produce godly repentance when miracles are not? Think of some examples in Scripture of people hearing preaching but failing to repent. What are some examples of people receiving preaching followed by repentance? Sermon Notes The title of this morning’s sermon is, “What Produces Godly Repentance?” On Sunday mornings we’re working our way through Luke’s gospel verse by verse and we find ourselves at Luke 16:30 toward the end of the account of the rich man and Lazarus. Let’s start at verse 27 for context… Luke 16:27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house 28 for I have five brothers so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ Moses and the Prophets is a New Testament way to refer to the Old Testament. The rich man objected to the idea that his brothers could listen to Moses and the Prophets, probably because he knew that his family did not take Moses and the Prophets seriously. He didn’t think Scripture would work, because he had such a low view of Scripture. He never obeyed Scripture, so why would they? Instead, he thinks they need a miracle to repent. And this brings us to lesson one… Lesson One: Godly repentance allows people to avoid the rich man’s fate. This is very interesting. The rich man knew what his brothers must do to avoid the torment he’s experiencing: repent, This also means he knew why he was in torment: he didn’t repent: He wasn’t lost because he was rich. He was lost because he wouldn’t turn from his sin. Many will also be lost for the same reason. And something interesting about the rich man’s lack of repentance in his earthly life is there’s no evidence of repentance, or change, in the next life either. Let me explain what I mean by getting you to notice some things about him… First, two times he tried to order Lazarus around and treat them like a servant who is inferior to him: Luke 16:24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and SEND LAZARUS TO DIP THE END OF HIS FINGER IN WATER AND COOL MY TONGUE, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ Luke 16:27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you,

55m

Dec 19, 2022

Nothing is more important than making Christ the foundation of a strong marriage. Read or listen to this chapter from Your Marriage God’s Way to learn how to build a strong Christian marriage! Table of ContentsThe Foundation of a Strong MarriageBuilding a Strong Foundation for Marriage Because the Storms Will ComeThe Daily Trials that Can Wear on a MarriageThe Importance of Obedience for a Strong Christian MarriageMoving Beyond Hearing (or Reading) to ObeyingResponse Determines OutcomeWisdom and Foolishness RevealedThe Prayers for You to Make Christ the Foundation of a Strong Marriage Soon after Katie and I moved from California to Washington, my parents moved so they could live closer to us. Pretty quickly, they found what seemed like the perfect house. It was beautiful, near us, and the price was low. I wondered, How had this house remained on the market for so long? Come to find out, there was a crack in the foundation. The house was so unstable no bank would even back a loan. On one hand I thought, How sad that such a beautiful house has lost so much value because of a poor foundation! On the other hand, I thought, How valuable is a house with such a poor foundation that it could fall at any moment? Homes and buildings are not the only things that need strong foundations. Jesus taught an entire parable making this point: Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall (Matthew 7:24-27). The Greek word translated “house” is oikia, and it can refer to a physical dwelling or a family or household. For our purposes, think specifically of a married couple. I would like to conclude our journey through Your Marriage God’s Way with a look at this parable for two reasons: Jesus brought the Sermon on the Mount to a close with this teaching. He wanted to make sure His listeners put into practice what they heard. My prayer is that you will put into practice what you have read in this book. This teaching makes clear that there is only one true foundation for healthy, joyful relationships: Jesus Christ. The Foundation of a Strong Marriage Let’s back up to get some momentum into this point. The Old Testament looked forward to Jesus: Luke 24:27—“Beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, [Jesus] expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” John 5:39—“[Jesus said], ‘You search the Scriptures…and these are they which testify of Me.’” There are many titles for God in the Old Testament, and the New Testament reveals Jesus is the true and greater fulfillment of them. For example, in the Old Testament, God is called: Shepherd (Psalm 23:1-4; Ezekiel 34:11-24), and in John 10:11, Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” Redeemer (Psalm 19:14; Isaiah 41:14), and Galatians 3:13 says, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law.” Deliverer (2 Samuel 22:2; Psalm 144:2), and 1 Thessalonians 1:10 says, “Jesus…delivers us from the wrath to come.” Judge (Genesis 18:25; Ezekiel 34:17), and in John 5:22 Jesus said, “The Father…has committed all judgment to the Son.” The strength of His people (Psalms 18:1; 28:7), and in Philippians 4:13 Paul said he “can do all things through Christ who strengthens [him].” There are plenty of other Old Testament titles for God that have their fulfillment in Jesus, and there’s one that is particularly relevant to our focus in this chapter, and that’s Rock: Deuteronomy 32:4—“He is the Rock, His work is perfect.”

19m

Dec 15, 2022

The account of the rich man and Lazarus shows us what happens to unbelievers when they die. There are 13 verses in the account and most of them focus on the rich man. Aside from being told Lazarus was in comfort at Abraham’s side, or bosom, there’s nothing else said about him. Instead, almost all the attention is on the rich man and his experience as an unbeliever. Table of ContentsFamily Worship GuideSermon NotesLesson One: When unbelievers die (Part One) they are in torment.Lesson One: When unbelievers die (Part Two) they receive no second chances.Lesson One: When unbelievers die (Part Three) they remember their earthly lives.Lesson Two: The living shouldn’t communicate with the dead. https://youtu.be/vQyOkFVOtOs The account of the rich man and Lazarus shows us what happens to unbelievers when they die. The focus is on the rich man and his experience. Family Worship Guide Directions: Read the following verses and then answer the questions: Day 1: Luke 16:23, 24-25, 28, Daniel 12:2, Revelation 14:10-11, Matthew 5:29, 7:13, Mark 9:44-48: what are some of the unbiblical beliefs about the afterlife held by false religions? How are those beliefs shown to be untrue by this account? What are some other verses in Scripture that tell us unbelievers experience eternal torment when they die? Day 2: Luke 16:26, Hebrews 9:27, Luke 16:25, 27-28 cf. 1 Corinthians 13:9-12: why do you think unbelievers don’t receive second chances when they die? How can we tell from the account that the rich man remembered his earthly life? What are some things from his earthly life that he remembered? Day 3: Luke 16:29, 1 Chronicles 10:13-14, Leviticus 19:31, 20:6, Deuteronomy 18:10-12, Isaiah 8:19: why do you think God doesn’t want the living attempting to communicate with the dead? Can you find other verses in Scripture that condemn mediums, Ouija boards, or séances? Can you think of individuals in Scripture, besides Saul, who consulted mediums? Sermon Notes The title of this morning’s sermon is, “What Happens to Unbelievers When They Die?” On Sunday mornings we’re working our way through Luke’s gospel verse by verse, and we find ourselves at Luke 16:24. We are in the account of the rich man and Lazarus. As you know, religions have different beliefs about what happens when you die. I looked up the beliefs of the top five religions… Sikhism is fifth. Sikhs do not believe in an afterlife, such as heaven or hell. They believe in reincarnation and the way you live in this life determines your form in the next life. Buddhism is fourth. Buddhists also believe in reincarnation, and they believe people who attain a state of enlightenment can enter Nirvana, the highest state of perfect peace and happiness where suffering and desires do not exist. Hinduism is third. Hindus also believe in reincarnation. People are reincarnated based on their karma, or how they lived their previous life. Islam is second. Muslims believe everyone will be resurrected into either paradise or hell based on their obedience to the Five Pillars. Christianity is first, largely because it includes all religions that call themselves Christian, including those we consider to be cults. Among the cults there are different beliefs about the afterlife. For example… Mormons believe there are different levels or kingdoms: the celestial kingdom, the terrestrial kingdom, the telestial kingdom, and outer darkness.1 People go to different kingdoms depending on what they believed and how they lived this life.2 Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe our souls are immortal: they believe our souls cease functioning just like our physical bodies. When people die, they experience soul sleep. Unrighteous people remain dead for eternity, or are annihilated, but the righteous are resurrected. Seventh-day Adventists also believe in soul sleep and annihilation. When Christ returns, He will awaken believers to go to heaven with Him while unbelievers cease e...

50m

Dec 12, 2022

The similarities between Isaac and Jesus' sacrifice are many. Read or listen to this chapter from A Father Offers His Son to see how Isaac is a type for Jesus in Genesis 22. Table of ContentsIsaac and Jesus Were Only Begotten Sons"Only" Means "Special"Isaac and Jesus Were Named by God Isaac and Jesus Were Loved by Their FathersGod’s Love for the WorldIsaac and Jesus Were Burnt OfferingsIsaac and Jesus Were “Offered” UpIsaac and Jesus Were Accompanied by Two Men on Their Way to Be SacrificedIsaac and Jesus Carried the Wood for Their Sacrifices Isaac and Jesus Were Willing to Experience Their Father’s FireIsaac and Jesus Were Sacrificial Lambs Isaac and Jesus Were in Agreement with Their FathersJesus and Isaac Were Submissive to Their FathersWere They the Same Age When Sacrificed?Jesus and Isaac Trusted Their FathersJesus and Isaac Were Willing to DieJesus and Isaac Were Placed on the Wood for Their SacrificesHow Much Worse for Abraham and God the Father?Jesus and Isaac Were Sacrificed by Their FathersWas Jesus Slain Before He Was Born?Jesus and Isaac Were Silent When Laying Down Their LivesConclusion Isaac as a type of Christ is one of the most dramatic in the Bible. The similarities between Isaac and Jesus' sacrifice in Genesis 22 are incredible. Isaac and Jesus Were Only Begotten Sons The typology between Isaac and Jesus is immediately established very strongly in Genesis 22:2. The language used regarding Abraham and Isaac is almost identical to the language used in the New Testament regarding God the Father and His Son. In Genesis 22:2 God said to Abraham, “your son, your only son.” He repeated these words two more times: Genesis 22:12—“And He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.’” Genesis 22:16—[The Angel of the Lord] said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son.” "Only" Means "Special" God does not waste words in Scripture. When He is repetitive, it is for a reason. God does not use highlighting, italics, underlining, or bold for emphasis, but He does repeat Himself when He wants to ensure we do not miss something. God wants us to recognize Isaac was, “[Abraham’s] son, [his] only son.” Abraham had another son, Ishmael, so how can God refer to Isaac as Abraham’s “only” son? The word “only” does not mean “single.” The Old Testament has three Hebrew words for “only.” Here are two of them: Genesis 6:5—“Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only [raq] evil continually.” Genesis 7:23—“So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only [‘ak] Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive.” The Old Testament is primarily written in Hebrew (with small portions written in Aramaic), and the word for “only” in Genesis 22:2 is yachiyd, which means “unique.” It is referring to Isaac being Abraham’s special, one-of-a-kind son. The same word is translated as “precious” elsewhere in Scripture: Psalm 22:20—“Deliver Me from the sword, My precious [yachiyd] life from the power of the dog.” Psalm 35:17—“Rescue me from their destructions, My precious [yachiyd] life from the lions.” The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (TWOT) says yachiyd means, “only begotten son.” This makes Isaac look like Jesus, the only begotten Son of God. “Begotten” does not mean “created.” The writers of the Nicene Creed wanted to make sure nobody misunderstood the word, so they said: I believe… in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made,

19m

Dec 08, 2022

In Luke 16:19-31 Jesus taught the account of the rich man and Lazarus, who went to Hades. The rich man went to a place of torment. Lazarus went to a place of comfort, also called Abraham’s bosom (or Abraham’s side in the ESV). We can learn much from these two and what happened with them. Table of contentsFamily Worship GuideSermon NotesLesson One: The Rich Man and Lazarus were actual people versus a parable.Lesson Two: Wealth and poverty are not signs of God’s favor or disfavor.Lesson Three: The Rich Man and Lazarus encourage us to focus on the next life. https://youtu.be/iYyuj7ooakg Luke 16:19-31 contains the rich man and Lazarus. They went to Hades, which has a place of torment and comfort (Abraham’s bosom). Family Worship Guide Directions: Read the following verses and then answer the questions: Day 1: Luke 8:4, 12:16, 13:6, 14:7 cf. 16:19, Matthew 12:40, John 20:17, Acts 2:27, John 3:13: why is the rich man and Lazarus more than likely an actual account versus a parable? Where was Jesus between His death and resurrection? Where does it seem like the prophet Samuel went when he died? Day 2: Luke 6:20, 24, 16:19-23, Matthew 5:3, Proverbs 22:2: what reveals the rich man’s selfishness? How do we know wealth and poverty are not signs of God’s favor or disfavor? Explain Luke 6:20 and 24. Day 3: James 5:5, 2 Corinthians 4:17-18: how do the rich man and Lazarus both encourage us to focus on the next life? Why are all our trials called light momentary afflictions? What allows us to view our trials as light momentary afflictions? Sermon Notes The title of this morning’s sermon is, “Learning from the Rich Man and Lazarus.” On Sunday mornings we’re working our way through Luke’s gospel verse by verse and we find ourselves at Luke 16:19. A few things before we get into the verses… First, last week’s sermon on Hades laid the foundation for these verses, so let me review a few points: Hades and Sheol are the same. Hades is the Greek word for the Hebrew word Sheol. Hades is the temporary abode of the dead and it contains two compartments:Believers find themselves in the place of comfort also called Abraham’s bosom or in the ESV Abraham’s side Unbelievers find themselves in the place of torment Believers were removed from Abraham’s bosom, the place of comfort, at Christ’ ascension Unbelievers will be removed from the place of torment to appear before the great White throne judgment before the new heavens and the new earth are established If any of this sounds confusing, please go back and listen to last week’s sermon. Second, you might remember a few weeks ago I told you that money is one of the themes of this chapter. This sets up the account of the rich man and Lazarus. Notice the theme: In verse 11 Jesus said, “If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?” Unrighteous wealth is not immoral or sinful, but it is called unrighteous because it is earthly. In verse 13 Jesus said, “No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” In verse 14 Jesus says the Pharisees, were lovers of money. Then in verse 15 Jesus said they justify themselves before men. Verses 14 and 15 can look unrelated: Jesus condemns the Pharisees for loving money and then condemns them for justifying themselves. But the criticisms are related because the Pharisees used money to justify themselves. They taught that money was a sign of divine favor and poverty was a sign of divine disfavor. So, the wealthier they looked, the better they looked. This caused them to flaunt their money and act extravagantly. They would say… “We have so much money, because we have been so good, and God has rewarded us. Why would God give us so much if He wasn’t pleased with us?”

49m

Dec 05, 2022

Our Christian marital "problems" are only symptoms. The actual problem is in our relationship with Christ. This is why all the prayers for marital problems should include praying for a stronger relationship with Christ. Read or listen to this chapter from Your Marriage God’s Way to find biblical advice for marriage problems. Table of ContentsSubmission to Christ Improves MarriagesHandling Christian Marital ProblemsWhen a Wife Began Criticizing Her Husband While I Taught Embrace Christian Marital ProblemsAsk Difficult Questions and Expect Painful AnswersGod's Chastening Is Not Punishment, But a Father's Loving DisciplineLearning From Painful Seasons Caused by Christian Marital Problems Because our relationships with our spouses reflect our relationships with Christ, our marriage “problems” are merely symptoms. The actual problems are in our relationships with Christ. The horizontal relationship with our spouse is suffering because there’s something wrong with the vertical relationship with Christ. For instance, in my own marriage, the problem looked like I did not have enough time for my wife and children. But that was a symptom. Actually, the problem was that I would not listen to the Holy Spirit’s promptings to meet my family’s needs, and I was not trusting Christ enough. Instead, I let anxiety consume me. Thus, the first place to address any symptoms—the things that appear to be problems between the husband and wife—is to look at each person’s relationship with the Lord. When I counsel couples and they share a problem they are experiencing, they become confused when I ask, “What does your time in God’s Word look like? How is your prayer life? Tell me about your involvement in the church.” A wife might say, “I just told you that my husband yells at me. Why are you asking about his time in the Word?” Because the hope is that as a husband reads God’s Word he will be convicted of what he is doing wrong, repent, and become a more patient and loving man. I do not have the power to change a husband’s heart, and neither does a wife, or there would be no need for counseling. A husband can only become the man he should be by having a good relationship with Christ. Likewise, a husband might respond, “I just told you about the ways my wife humiliates me in front of our friends. Why do you ask whether we are part of a small group study?” Because ongoing connections with other believers can provide accountability and require vulnerability and transparency. You can learn from other believers and be challenged by their examples. When you are not actively involved with others who are in the body of Christ, you will not receive the encouragement and exhortation God wants you to have. You will feel alone, as though you are the only people having these problems. You will not have anyone in your life through whom God can regularly speak to you. We are made to have fellowship with other believers. When we do not have it, that lack manifests itself in other areas, including our marriages. Submission to Christ Improves Marriages Here are two situations I have witnessed many times. A husband and wife are having Christian marital problems. They submit to Christ, and soon their marriage improves. Why? Did their difficulties simply disappear? No, those difficulties had been symptoms of the real problem—Christ was not supreme in their lives. When they put Christ first, their marriage improved. Similarly, I have seen a couple plugged into church. The husband and wife pray and read the Word together. They are doing well spiritually, and their marriage is healthy. Then, for various reasons, they get distracted from the Lord and their priorities shift. They start wavering in church attendance and the spiritual disciplines. They fall out of fellowship. Soon their marriage suffers. So remember: Christian marital problems are only symptoms—or negative consequences—of not having Christ as the focal point in the marital re...

18m

Dec 01, 2022

What does the Bible say about Hades (the Greek word hades), also known as Sheol (the Hebrew word šᵊ'ôl)? Hades in the Bible is the temporary abode of the dead (Acts 2:27). It consists of two compartments: a place of comfort (also called Abraham's bosom) and a place of torment that will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14). Table of contentsFamily Worship GuideSermon NotesLesson One: Hades (Greek) or Sheol (Hebrew) is the temporary abode of the dead.Lesson Two: Believers were removed from Hades at Jesus’s ascension.Lesson Three: Unbelievers will be removed from Hades at the Great White Throne Judgment. https://youtu.be/zvM22FAeL5k What does the Bible say about Hades (Sheol)? Hades in the Bible is the temporary abode of the dead consisting of two compartments. Family Worship Guide Directions: Read the following verses and then answer the questions: Day 1: Genesis 37:35, Job 14:13, Psalm 9:17, 31:17, 88:3, Isaiah 5:14, 38:10, Numbers 16:30, John 20:17, Matthew 12:40, Hebrews 2:17, Acts 2:24-31: Why doesn’t the Old Testament discuss heaven and hell as much as the New Testament? Where did Jesus go between His death and resurrection and how do we know? Describe the two compartments in Hades. Day 2: Ephesians 4:8-9, Hebrews 6:19, 10:4, 20, Matthew 27:51, John 3:13, Genesis 5:24, 8:2, 2 Kings 2:11 and discuss: When was the place of comfort in Hades emptied? Who was removed at that time and how were they removed? Why couldn’t believers go to heaven earlier in the Old Testament? Day 3: Revelation 20:11- 15, John 5:22, 28-29, Matthew 10:15, Acts 17:31, 2 Peter 2:9, Hebrews 4:12-13 and discuss: When is the place of torment in Hades emptied? Describe the great White throne judgment. Who faces this judgment and how are they judged? How can people avoid this judgment? Sermon Notes The title of this morning’s sermon is, “Hades in the Bible Is….” On Sunday mornings we’re working our way through Luke’s gospel verse by verse and we find ourselves at Luke 16:19, which begins the account of the rich man and Lazarus. But don’t turn there because we won’t start those verses until next week. As you might know, the account introduces us to Hades. As I developed material to explain what Hades is, so you would have the background for that account, I found that it provided more than enough material for its own sermon. In fact, I had to cut out quite a bit of material just to keep it to one sermon…such as all the material on Gehenna and Tartarus. I would like to begin by asking you to take your minds to the Old Testament. Think of places that discuss heaven and hell or eternal rewards and eternal punishment. Interestingly, even though we know heaven and hell are of incredible importance, you probably can’t think of many verses discussing them. Unless I am missing something, this is the only verse in all of the Old Testament discussing eternal life and eternal punishment… Daniel 12:2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. There is one verse that seems to discuss eternal punishment… Isaiah 66:24 “They shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.” You probably recognize this verse because Jesus quoted it to describe hell. There are a few verses that subtly describe heaven… Psalm 16:11 In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Here heaven is loosely described as the joy of being in God’s presence. Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Here heaven is described as being with God forever. Psalm 73:24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.

49m

Nov 27, 2022

What does the Bible say about divorce and remarriage? Can people divorce? What are the conditions for people to remarry? Why did Jesus repeatedly associate divorce and remarriage with adultery? How can we harmonize Matthew 5:31-32 with Mark 10:11-12 and Luke 16:18? Read this post or listen to the accompanying sermon for answers. https://youtu.be/N41dX_PKggM What does the Bible say about divorce and remarriage? How can we harmonize Matthew 5:31-32 with Mark 10:11-12 and Luke 16:18? Watch this sermon for answers. Table of contentsA Few Qualifications Before Discussing Divorce and RemarriageBelievers Should Remain Married to UnbelieversWhat “Made Holy” Does and Does Not MeanWhat “Not Bound” Does and Does Not MeanRemarriage Is Permissible If a Spouse DiesThe Importance of VowsRemarriage with a Living Spouse Is AdulteryMatthew's Gospel and Jewish BetrothalsFour Reasons Jesus Only Permitted Divorce During BetrothalsTwo Passages Encourage Remaining with Your Current Spouse Even If You Have Another Living SpouseTwo Marriage EncouragementsEncouragement One: Church involvement is a major factor lowering divorce ratesEncouragement Two: Let Christ’s faithfulness to you fuel your faithfulness to your spouse If you want a Christ-centered marriage, then please read Your Marriage God's Way. I am praying God uses the book and workbook to strengthen marriages and exalt Christ. Also available as an audiobook. By my calculations I have preached about 550 sermons at Woodland Christian Church. I can honestly say that the sermon on divorce and remarriage was the first I ever dreaded preaching. I knew that it was coming, and I vainly hoped that there would be some way to avoid it, but I don’t want to shrink back from faithfully teaching the whole counsel of God’s Word. A Few Qualifications Before Discussing Divorce and Remarriage First, I think it is very important that you understand what my heart is and is not on this topic. We have people in my church who are divorced and remarried and married to divorced people. My heart is not to condemn them. Instead, my desire to is to condemn divorce.The statistics I found state that the divorce rate among evangelical Christians is 26%, compared to 33% for the rest of the population. I want to see these numbers go down. I want to discourage divorce among those who are married and I want to discourage divorce among those who will be married in the future. If you are single, you should pay special attention, because if more people got married knowing what God’s Word says about divorce and remarriage, I think we would see less divorces.Just this past week I received two messages from people I don’t know who wanted to divorce their spouse. One email was from a woman who claimed to be abused by her husband, and another email was from a man who claimed to be abused by his wife. I also received two comments on my blog this week. One from a man who wanted to divorce his wife and another from a woman who wanted to divorce her husband. I would like to think that if these people knew what God’s Word says about divorce and remarriage, they would not be thinking about divorcing their spouse. Second, please know that I personally do not think I am any better than anyone who is divorced or has married a divorced person. If I married one of the girls I dated, or I became a Christian after I was married, I’m sure I easily could have been divorced. Third, if you wonder how people who are divorced or married to divorced people are feeling, I can tell you that many of the people I have spoken with who have been divorced will be the first to tell you that they wish the church preached on divorce more often and more boldly. Fourth, I’m sharing a view that I did not hold at the beginning of my Christian life. The church I was saved in and then the church I started ministry in, held a different view. I came to this view, which is the view of Woodland Christian Church,

54m

Nov 21, 2022

What are the characteristics of agape love? What kind of love is agape? Read or listen to this chapter from Your Marriage God’s Way to find out. Table of ContentsAGAPE IS UNCONDITIONALHosea Pursuing GomerA Modern Day Hosea and GomerAGAPE IS SACRIFICIALAGAPE IS MAN’S LOVE FOR SINAGAPE IS GOD’S LOVE FOR MAN How does the world think about love? Cupid comes to mind. As popular culture states, he shoots people with his arrows and they fall in love. Society has also made it “normal” for people to fall out of love because supposedly love is an emotion over which we have no control. It’s as though people are walking along, they trip, and the next thing they know, they’ve developed feelings for someone. According to this understanding of love, a man could tell his wife that he was at work and he didn’t mean to develop feelings for his coworker. They just kept running into each other in the hallway and the break room, and before he knew it, he “fell” in love with her. A man could also tell his wife, “I’m sorry, but I no longer love you. I don’t know how or when it happened, but I just fell out of love with you.” Feelings come and go, and because so many people today define love as a feeling, they assume that love comes and goes. The biggest problem with this incorrect understanding is that it completely contradicts the way Scripture presents love (agape - for the Greek). It’s not a feeling or emotion. Agape is a choice, an act of the will. We choose whether we do or don’t love. God can command us to show this kind of love because we do, in fact, have control over it. Two of agape’s characteristics make this clear. AGAPE IS UNCONDITIONAL Phileo is conditional. Two friends might have phileo for each other because of qualities they share or circumstances that bring them together, but if those qualities or circumstances change, their phileo for each other might also change. In contrast, agape is unconditional. It is not affected by a person’s actions, looks, or possessions. People might successfully create phileo for someone else by being a better friend, but agape cannot be earned or merited. Nothing can be done to increase or decrease agape. It can only be given. Agape does not demand reciprocation and it is independent of how it is treated in return. Agape loves even when rejected, mistreated, or scorned. That is what makes this form of love so unique and distinguishable. Hosea Pursuing Gomer The Old Testament provides a beautiful picture of agape’s unconditional nature. In fact, if a husband asked me, “Pastor, how far should I be willing to go in my love for my wife?,” I would tell him to read the book of Hosea (chapters 1 and 3 specifically). The prophet Hosea’s story began when God told him to marry a woman named Gomer as an object lesson about God’s relationship with Israel: “The Lord said to Hosea: ‘Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry, for the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the Lord’” (Hosea 1:2). We don’t know whether Gomer was already a harlot when Hosea married her or she became one later, but at some point, Gomer left Hosea—either to resume her career as a harlot or to pursue adulterous relationships. Eventually she found herself destitute and she either sold herself or someone else sold her into slavery. We know this was a sexual slavery, akin to human trafficking today, because God commanded Hosea, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing adultery” (Hosea 3:1). Notice the present—versus past— tense of the verse. Hosea was to love Gomer even while she was in an adulterous relationship. In obedience to God, Hosea purchased Gomer back from slavery and restored her to her position as his wife. It is significant that God not only instructed Hosea to return to Gomer. He commanded him to love her: “Go again, love a woman.” Going back to Gomer after her unfaithfulness would have required an unimaginable amount of forgiv...

19m

Nov 17, 2022

Colossians 2:2 discusses the mystery of Christ. In the Bible, a mystery is something concealed until God reveals it. Jesus is called a mystery because He was concealed and then revealed. He was hidden in the Old Testament, but God provided two ways for people to look forward to Him in faith: prophecies and shadows. https://youtu.be/0UR8Et_Ht_g Colossians 2:2 discusses the mystery of Christ, because Jesus was hidden in the Old Testament. He was concealed and then revealed. Table of contentsFamily Worship GuideSermon NotesLesson One: Christ was a mystery.Lesson Two: Old Testament saints (Part One) looked forward to Christ in faith through prophecies and shadows.Lesson Two: Old Testament saints (Part Two) strained to understand the mystery of Christ.Lesson Three: Think of the Old Testament as a key versus only a rulebook.Lesson Four: John’s ministry solved the mystery of Christ.Lesson Five: (Part One) The kingdom of God brought a choice in Jesus’s day…Lesson Five: (Part One) The kingdom of God brought a choice in Jesus’s day (Part Two) and ours. Family Worship Guide Directions: Read the following verses and then answer the questions: Day 1: Colossians 1:26-2:2, 16-17, Luke 24:27, John 1:45-46, Hebrews 10:7 and discuss: scripturally speaking, what is a mystery? Why is Jesus called a mystery? How can Jesus be a mystery in the Old Testament, but the New Testament says the Old Testament is Him? Day 2: 1 Peter 1:10-12, Matthew 13:16, Galatians 3:23-25, John 5:39-40 and discuss: how did the prophets in the Old Testament strain to see Christ? What are types and shadows of Christ, and can you name three from the Old Testament? Why should the Old Testament be thought of as a key versus only a rulebook? Day 3: Luke 16:16-17, John 1:15, 29, Matthew 5:17, 11:11, Luke 13:24, 16:17 and discuss: why were the law and the prophets preached only until John? What did Jesus mean when He said He came to fulfill the law versus abolish it? What does it mean that some people were forcing their way into the kingdom of God in Jesus’s day? Sermon Notes The title of this morning’s sermon is, “The Mystery of Christ.” On Sunday mornings we have been working our way through Luke’s gospel verse by verse and we find ourselves at Luke 16:16, but I’m going to provide quite a bit of background information, so this verse makes sense. Let me begin by explaining what a mystery is, biblically… A mystery is something that can never be figured out no matter how much time you had or no matter how hard you tried. For example, if you looked at a difficult math problem you might say, “This is a mystery to me,” but given enough time and effort you could discover the answer. But in Scripture, a mystery is something concealed until God chooses to reveal it. In Colossians 2 Paul talks about a mystery. Look with me at verse one to see how much he wants his readers – including us – to understand this mystery… Colossians 2:1 For I WANT YOU TO KNOW HOW GREAT A STRUGGLE I HAVE FOR YOU AND FOR THOSE AT LAODICEA AND FOR ALL WHO HAVE NOT SEEN ME FACE TO FACE, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of GOD'S MYSTERY, WHICH IS CHRIST. Verse 2 says Christ is God’s mystery. And this brings us to lesson one… Lesson One: Christ was a mystery. Here’s the question… Why is Christ called a mystery? Because He was concealed and then revealed. He could not be known until God chose to reveal Him. Look a few verses earlier at the end of Colossians 1:26… Colossians 1:26 the mystery HIDDEN FOR AGES AND GENERATIONS BUT NOW REVEALED TO HIS SAINTS. Christ was a mystery that was hidden in the past, but God has revealed Him to New Testament saints. Look at the next verse… Colossians 1:27 To them God chose TO MAKE KNOWN how great among the Gentiles are the riches of THE GLORY OF THIS MYSTERY, WHICH IS CHRIST IN YOU,

50m

Nov 14, 2022

"Wives submit to your husband as to the Lord," is the primary command for wives found in Ephesians 5:22-24 (see also Colossians 3:18, and 1 Peter 3:1). What does, "Wives be subject to your own husbands" mean? Read or listen to this chapter from Your Marriage God’s Way to find out! Table of ContentsSUBMISSION IS NOT ONLY FOR WIVES THE WAY WE SUBMIT IS AS IMPORTANT AS SUBMITTING WIVES SUBMIT TO YOUR HUSBAND, BECAUSE YOU WANT TO OBEY THE BIBLE VERSUS THE WORLDTHE NEED FOR WIVES TO SUBMIT TO THEIR HUSBANDSubmission When a Wife Disagrees A Husband Can Make Submission Easier, but He Can Never Make It Easy WHAT IS REVEALED ABOUT A WIFE WHO SUBMITS TO HER HUSBAND? https://youtu.be/qJ25Eup-xMI "Wives submit to your husband," is the primary command for wives. What does it look to obey this command and how can husbands make it easier? Because we live in a fallen world—and because our fallenness resulted from Adam and Eve’s refusal to submit to God—ultimately, we are prone to resist submission, unbeliever and believer alike. Our culture views submission negatively. When we become Christians, we continue to struggle with submission because we’re called to submit in multiple ways that our flesh resists. Therefore, as you read this chapter, here are two key points that are vital to keep in mind: The Bible speaks frequently of submission, so if you have a problem with it, you will have a problem with much of the Bible. Submission—or having a submissive spirit—is spoken of positively in Scripture. If you do not want to be a submissive person, you will have a hard time following Christ. Before we do more exploring about what the Bible says about submission in marriage, let’s talk about submission in other areas of life. SUBMISSION IS NOT ONLY FOR WIVES Often when we hear the word submission, the first thing that comes to mind is God’s command for wives to submit to their husbands. But wives are far from the only believers commanded to submit. In fact, every Christian is called to submit in a variety of ways. Later we will examine 1 Peter 3:1-6, which commands wives to submit to their husbands, but before Peter instructs wives, he first addresses submission in other relationships: First Peter 2:13-17 commands believers to submit to government (see also Romans 13:1-7). First Peter 2:18-25 commands slaves to submit to their masters; in our society, the equivalent is employees submitting to employers (see also Ephesians 6:5-8). First Peter 5:5 commands congregations to submit to their elders (see also Hebrews 13:17). In Ephesians 6:1, the apostle Paul commands children to submit to their parents (see also Colossians 3:20). He also instructs wives to submit to their husbands in Ephesians 5:22, but one verse earlier, in Ephesians 5:21, he commands believers to submit “to one another in the fear of God.” This calls us to have a submissive spirit that is willing to give up rights and desires unity in the body of Christ. We see this described more clearly in Philippians 2:3-4: “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Our spiritual liberty is not only about freedom but about giving up—that is, submitting—our rights for others. If a brother or sister in Christ would be offended or stumble on account of exercising our liberties, we submit to that person by laying down our rights (Romans 14:14-23; 1 Corinthians 8:9- 13). Paul says in Romans 12:18, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” Hebrews 12:14 reiterates, “Pursue peace with all people.” Establishing this peace, whether in the marriage union or any other relationship, involves submission. It involves making sacrifices in deference to others. THE WAY WE SUBMIT IS AS IMPORTANT AS SUBMITTING When I taught elementary school,

25m

Nov 03, 2022

Jesus Christ our righteousness offers us His righteousness by grace through faith. It's part of the classic double imputation that takes place at every conversion. Our unrighteousness is imputed to Christ, and His perfect righteousness is imputed to us: "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). This is why we don't need to try to justify ourselves. https://youtu.be/VR0G0Xj_09Q Jesus Christ our righteousness offers us His righteousness by grace through faith. Part of the double imputation occurring at conversion. Table of contentsFamily Worship Guide for Jesus Christ Our Righteousness Versus Justifying OurselvesSermon Notes for Jesus Christ Our Righteousness Versus Justifying OurselvesLesson One: It is tempting to (Part One) reject God’s word when it convicts us.Lesson One: It is tempting to (Part Two) justify ourselves.Lesson Two: Because of Jesus Christ Our Righteousness, we don’t have to justify ourselves. Family Worship Guide for Jesus Christ Our Righteousness Versus Justifying Ourselves Directions: Read the following passages and answer the questions below: Day 1: Read Luke 16:14-15, 1 Corinthians 28:9, Proverbs 24:12 and discuss: what are things people believe to convince themselves that they are good and not sinners? Which of these are you tempted to believe about yourself? What does justified mean? Why did the Pharisees ridicule Jesus’s teaching? What teachings in Scripture might we be tempted to ridicule?Day 2: Read Matthew 5:19, 19:16-17, Luke 10:25-28, 18:9-149, and discuss: why did Jesus tell the lawyer and the rich young ruler that if they obeyed the law (the Ten Commandments) that they would live? Does this mean we can obey the law and live (eternally)? Why or why not? Why wasn’t the Pharisee justified, but why the tax collector was?Day 2: Read Luke 2:21-24, Matthew 3:13-15, 17:24-27, 2 Corinthians 5:21 and discuss: why did Jesus do all of these things even going beyond what the law commanded? For example, why was he willing to experience a baptism of repentance when he didn’t need to repent, and why did he pay the temple tax when he was exempt from it as the King’s Son? Sermon Notes for Jesus Christ Our Righteousness Versus Justifying Ourselves The title of this morning’s message is, “Jesus Christ Our Righteousness.” On Sunday mornings we’re working our way through Luke’s gospel verse by verse, and we find ourselves at Luke 16:14. Something frustrating happened to me on Thursday. I thought I had my sermon finished, but as I was going over it, I was dissatisfied because it was too long and felt like it was going in two different directions: The first half of the sermon was about the Pharisees justifying themselvesThe second half of the sermon was about the Pharisees loving money It felt like two unrelated sermons to me, so I split them up. This morning we’ll talk about the dangers of justifying ourselves and next week we will talk about the dangers of loving money. Let’s back up to verse thirteen for context… Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” If you remember the end of our previous sermon on the parable of the unjust steward when I talked about this verse, I told you that it is not an imperative or command. Jesus is not telling us not to do something: he is not telling us not to serve God AND money. Instead, this is an indicative. Jesus is indicating or stating something: He is telling us we can’t serve God and money. To serve God is to choose not to serve money, and to serve money is to choose not to serve God. But there were people who served money, and they heard Jesus say this… Luke 16:14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him.  Based on verse one,

46m

Oct 29, 2022

We can learn many wonderful lessons from the life of Abraham. Read or listen to this chapter from my book, A Father Offers His Son, for lessons learned from Abraham. Table of ContentsLesson One: Abraham was Ready to Obey GodLesson Two: Abraham Obeyed God When It Did Not Make SenseLesson Three: Abraham Did Not Delay ObeyingLesson Four: Abraham Would Not Let Anyone Interfere with Him ObeyingLesson Five: Abraham Understood Obedience Is WorshipLesson Six: Abraham Trusted GodGod’s Sovereignty Should Give Us Confidence While we want to see Jesus throughout the account of Abraham sacrificing Isaac, we can also learn lessons from Abraham’s example. We can be encouraged by his great faith and challenged by his tremendous obedience. Lesson One: Abraham was Ready to Obey God Genesis 22:1—Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!”And he said, “Here I am.” If we asked why God would want Abraham to sacrifice his son, the other comparable question we would ask is: why was Abraham willing to sacrifice his son? The simple answer is he heard from God. Abraham’s willingness to present Isaac as a burnt offering required he be fully convinced God had spoken to him. Otherwise, Abraham was insane at best, and evil at worst. When God first spoke to Abraham, he responded with three words, which mean much more than, “I am here.” They mean, “I am ready to serve You and do Your will!” Other godly men said these same words when they were willing to obey God. In each instance, God revealed His desire only after the person responded this way. For example: Jacob said these words in Genesis 46:2, and then God told him to head to Egypt.Moses said these words in Exodus 3:4, and then God sent him to deliver the Israelites.Samuel said these words in 1 Samuel 3:4, 5, 6, and 8, and then God revealed he would remove Eli’s house.Isaiah said these words in Isaiah 6:8, and then God sent him as a prophet. Abraham heard from God and responded appropriately. We should have the same responsive hearts toward God. Often, that is when God reveals His will for us. The Word of God is what we “hear.” When we become convinced that God is speaking to us through Scripture, we are to respond as quickly and obediently as Abraham did. Lesson Two: Abraham Obeyed God When It Did Not Make Sense Genesis 22:2—Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” There are two reasons this was a difficult test for Abraham. First, and most obviously, it meant sacrificing his “only son whom he loved.” Second, it seemed irrational. When God repeated His covenant to Abraham, He said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them… So shall your descendants be” (Genesis 15:5; see also Genesis 12:2 and 17:6). Later, in Genesis 21:12, God said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” letting him know the descendants would come from Isaac, as opposed to Ishmael. When God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, Isaac had no children. The dilemma for Abraham was, “God promised me lots of descendants, and they are supposed to come through Isaac, but I have to sacrifice him before he has had any children?” Despite any confusion Abraham experienced, he obeyed. God’s Word might not always make sense, but we must still obey. In Isaiah 55:8–9, God says: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,Nor are your ways My ways…For as the heavens are higher than the earth,So are My ways higher than your ways,And My thoughts than your thoughts.” We will not always understand why God does what He does, and we will not always understand why God wants us to do what He wants us to do. Even at those times, we must trust Him and obey. Lesson Three: Abraham Did Not Delay Obeying Genesis 22:3—So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey,

15m

Oct 28, 2022

Luke 16:1-13 contains the Parable of the Unjust Steward (also called the Parable of the Shrewd Manager). This is Jesus’s most controversial and confusing teaching, because it seems to commend immorality. But if we understand what Jesus was and wasn’t saying, we’ll see it is a fantastic, challenging parable. Read or listen to this chapter from Your Finances God’s Way to learn the important lessons. Table of contentsWAS JESUS APPLAUDING DISHONESTY OR DOING SOMETHING ELSE?The Parable of the Unjust Steward Teaches us to Take Seriously that We Will Give an AccountThe Parable of the Unjust Steward Teaches us to Prepare for the Future The Parable of the Unjust Steward Teaches us to Value the Narrow Window of Time to Use Our Master’s ResourcesThe Parable of the Unjust Steward Teaches us to Work HardThe Parable of the Unjust Steward Teaches us to Use Money to Make Eternal FriendsTWO FINANCIAL PRINCIPLESPrinciple One: If We Can’t Be Faithful with Money, We Can’t Be Faithful with Much Else Principle Two: Serving God or MoneyWE MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN GOD AND MONEY https://youtu.be/rXeNjXab5UE Luke 16:1-13 contains the Parable of the Unjust Steward (or Shrewd Manager), which teaches that money is the foundation of faithfulness. In the introduction, I said I wanted you to have the motivation to be a good steward of your finances. What could accomplish this better than a parable Jesus taught about financial stewardship? The parable of the unjust steward is one of Jesus’s most controversial and confusing teachings because it seems to commend immorality; therefore, please bear with me through the groundwork that explains why this is not the case. Luke 16:1-2 opens the parable: [Jesus] said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him, “What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager” (ESV). The manager here is a steward, which is how it’s translated in many Bibles. Stewards don’t own anything. Instead, they’re responsible for someone else’s possessions, which is why this person is called a manager. Stewards were trusted servants because they had full authority over their master’s possessions and could conduct business transactions in the master’s name. The master thinks the steward is incompetent (“wasting his possessions”) versus dishonest, so he told the steward he would fire him in the future, versus immediately. This was a mistake because it allowed the steward to keep control of the master’s assets and rip him off. Luke 16:3-8 records the steward’s thoughts and actions after learning of his termination: The manager said to himself, “What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.” So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, “How much do you owe my master?” He said, “A hundred measures of oil.” He said to him, “Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.” Then he said to another, “And how much do you owe?” He said, “A hundred measures of wheat.” He said to him, “Take your bill, and write eighty.” The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness (ESV). If you ever learned you would lose your job, you would probably immediately start thinking about what you would do next. That’s what the steward did, but he found his options unattractive. He was “not strong enough to dig,” perhaps because he was old or disabled, and he was too “ashamed to beg,” perhaps because doing so was beneath him after having held such a prestigious position. More than likely, the steward lived in his rich master’s house. When he was fired, not only would he lose his job, he would also lose his nice living situation.

23m

Oct 17, 2022

We must understand what a wife's biblical submission is NOT, because of the obvious questions: How far does submission extend? Is there anything to which a wife should not submit? Read or listen to this chapter from Your Marriage God’s Way to find out, "What does biblical submission of a wife look like in practice and what does it not involve?" Table of ContentsANSWERING THOSE NAGGING QUESTIONSFirst, Biblical Submission Does Not Mean That Wives Submit to Other MenSecond, Biblical Submission Does Not Mean That Wives Submit to AbuseThird, Biblical Submission Does Not Mean That Wives Submit to SinFourth, Biblical Submission Does Not Mean That Husbands Do Not Defer to Their WivesFifth, Biblical Submission Does Not Mean That Husbands Do Not Listen to Their WivesSixth, Biblical Submission Does Not Mean That Wives Are InferiorFOLLOWING JESUS’S EXAMPLE OF SUBMISSION https://youtu.be/qJ25Eup-xMI Wives Submit to Your Husband is the third message I deliver at Your Marriage God's Way Conferences I was invited to be one of the keynote speakers for a marriage conference. During one of the first planning meetings, the various speakers and the conference leaders came together to choose the topics for the messages. Many important topics were suggested, such as husbands loving their wives, intimacy, communication, and conflict resolution. Nobody mentioned submission, so I said I would preach on the subject. Immediately the tone in the room changed. While the other suggestions were met with enthusiastic responses, such as, “Sounds good…I look forward to hearing that message…That will be very beneficial,” mine was met with, “Umm…Uhh…Hmm.” You would’ve thought I had offered to speak on something completely unbiblical rather than the primary command given to wives that is very clearly repeated throughout the New Testament in Ephesians 5:22, 24, Colossians 3:18, Titus 2:3-5, and 1 Peter 3:1. One of the other keynote speakers said, “I try not to use the word submit. I like to say defer, compromise, or consider.” The awkwardness continued when we filmed the promotional spots for the conference. My video probably took more time to be recorded than the rest of the speakers combined because there were repeated objections to me quoting Bible verses commanding wives to submit to their husbands. Interestingly, I did little more than simply recite the verses, letting the Bible speak for itself. I didn’t interpret them or comment on them, which reveals how much discomfort there is simply associated with what God’s Word says about submission. Submission is difficult to address. Some people cringe at the word. I will be the first to say submission has been misused and abused in relationships, sermons, and counseling sessions. My desire is to approach this sensitive command in both a biblical and delicate manner. Up front, I would like to make two requests: Please commit to taking the time to consider what Scripture itself says about submission and how it applies to everyday life. Clearly, the fact God made this such a key part of His marriage instructions means it is important.Please keep in mind that as our Creator and Designer, God knows the ideal for our relationships. Not only does He know what is best for us, He wants what is best for us. For us to reject His design is to settle for less than God’s best, and say we know better than Him. ANSWERING THOSE NAGGING QUESTIONS In any discussion of submission, some obvious and legitimate questions arise: How far does submission extend? Is there anything to which a wife should not submit? Are all women required to submit to all men? Does submission mean men can do whatever they want to their wives? What about physical or mental abuse? As we cover the command for wives to submit to their husbands, I don’t want these questions nagging you. I believe you will be more receptive to what submission involves if you first learn what it does not involve.

27m

Oct 13, 2022

We can learn wonderful lessons from the prodigal's son's brother and Jonah. Reading Jonah 4 is like reading Luke 15:25-31. If God is going to put two similar accounts in the Bible – one in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament – it seems He’s trying to drive home the points they make. https://youtu.be/ZkIsRFUXgGA We can learn wonderful lessons from the prodigal's son's brother and Jonah. Reading Jonah 4 is like reading Luke 15:25-31. Table of contentsFamily Worship Guide for Lessons from the Prodigal Son's BrotherSermon Notes for Lessons from the Prodigal Son's BrotherLesson One: Jonah contains the parable of the prodigal son.Lesson Two: When God blesses others it doesn’t mean less for us.Lesson Three: Do we recognize our spiritual blessings?Lesson Four: The Prodigal Son's Brother and Jonah teach us (Part One) to rejoice over salvation.Lesson Four: The Prodigal Son's Brother and Jonah teach us (Part Two) God wants to forgive. Family Worship Guide for Lessons from the Prodigal Son's Brother Directions: Read the following passages and answer the questions below: Day 1: Jonah 4—How is the parable of the prodigal son revealed in Jonah 4? How do you see the father, youngest son, and oldest son in Jonah 4? What are the similarities between the accounts?Day 2: Luke 15:31 and Ephesians 1:3-11—Why do you think the older brother wasn’t aware of everything he had available to him? What spiritual blessings are available to us? What spiritual blessings might we neglect or fail to appreciate are available to us?Day 3: Luke 15:31-32, Jonah 4:11, 2 Peter 3:9, Romans 5:20—Why do you think God has two similar accounts, one in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament? How do these accounts reveal that we should rejoice over salvation? How do they reveal that God desires to forgive? Sermon Notes for Lessons from the Prodigal Son's Brother On Sunday mornings we’re working our way through Luke’s gospel verse by verse and we find ourselves at Luke 15:31. This will be our last sermon on the parable of the prodigal son. The parable has greatly encouraged me, and I hope it has you as well. The title of this morning’s sermon is, “Lessons from the Prodigal Son's Brother and Jonah.” First, we are going to look at some verses in Jonah and I will begin with a lesson to set us up… Lesson One: Jonah contains the parable of the prodigal son. I have been thinking about the ways Jonah resembles the older brother, but I wanted to wait until we got toward the end of the parable so you would have the familiarity to see the similarities. Reading Jonah 4 is like reading Luke 15:25-31. Jonah is like the Old Testament older brother. I hope this will become clear as we read the verses, and allow us to examine our hearts and see if we’re at all like Jonah or older brother. Go ahead and start at Jonah 3:10 for context… Jonah 3:10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. Now if you didn’t already know this account, what would you expect the next verse to say about Jonah? Then Jonah rejoiced greatly over the Ninevites’ forgiveness. He was very thankful and blessed that God was so gracious and merciful. He called together his friends and neighbors and said, “Rejoice with me, for the Ninevites who were lost have been found. They were dead and are now alive.” And he began to celebrate. Instead, he looks just like the older brother… Jonah 4:1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. Here’s the typology: The Ninevites look like the younger brother. They live wickedly, but they repent and are immediately forgiven.Jonah looks like the older brother. He’s upset about the Ninevites’ forgiveness like the older brother was upset about his younger brother’s forgiveness.And God looks like the father. He forgave the Ninevites as quickly and graciously as the father forgave the youngest...

42m

Oct 09, 2022

We have one word for love, but Greek has multiple: agape, phileo, storge, and eros. What is the difference between agape and phileo love? What about eros and storge? Read or listen to this chapter from Your Marriage God’s Way to find out. Table of ContentsDEFINING THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF LOVEEros—Physical AttractionStorge—Natural AffectionPhileo—Strong AffectionAgape—A Superior LoveA WIFE’S PHILEO FOR HER HUSBAND What are a few things I love? I love my kids, eating popcorn, and teaching the Bible. Another man might say, “I love my wife, football, and working on my car.” For this man’s wife’s sake, let’s hope he loves his wife differently than he loves football and automobiles. For my kids’ sake, let’s hope I love them differently than I love eating popcorn. Have you ever noticed that the English word love can be used in a wide variety of ways that fail to distinguish between different shades of meaning? Obviously, the love we have for things we enjoy is different than the love we experience in relationships. Even within our relationships, the kinds of love we experience will vary significantly. We love our parents differently than we love our spouse, and we love our children differently than we love our pastor, fellow church members, or coworkers. Within a marriage relationship, what kind of love should a husband have for his wife? Or a wife for her husband? What does such love look like? If we are to obey God’s command to love our spouse, we must be able to answer these questions. The New Testament was originally written almost entirely in Greek, a language that contains four different words for love: eros, phileo (click for the Greek), storge, and agape (click for the Greek). Let’s define and examine a biblical picture of each. With a clearer understanding of three of those words for love—eros, storge, and phileo—we will be better prepared to understand the superior form of love: agape. Why is it so important for us to understand agape? This word appears twice in Ephesians 5:25: “Husbands, love [agape] your wives, just as Christ also loved [agape] the church and gave Himself for her.” Agape is the love husbands are commanded to have for their wives, and it is the love Christ has for His bride, the church. It is also the love God has for each of us: “God so loved [agape] the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). We must understand agape so husbands will know how to love their wives, so wives will know how they should be loved by their husbands, and so we can all realize the greatness of God’s love for us. DEFINING THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF LOVE Eros—Physical Attraction Eros is the only Greek term for love that is not used directly in Scripture. The word refers specifically to physical attraction or romantic love. We will examine it fully in chapter 19 when we discuss a biblical view of sex. Storge—Natural Affection Storge refers to natural affection, or familial love, such as the love a parent feels toward a child, or the love siblings feel toward each other. The word storge is not used in Scripture in its simple form; it appears twice as astorgos, which is storge with an a in front of it, making it mean the opposite—without love or without natural affection. The apostle Paul uses this term when he states that people will not “retain God in their knowledge [therefore He] gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness…[including being] unloving [astorgos]” (Romans 1:28, 31). Paul uses the word again when he writes to Timothy: “In the last days perilous times will come: for men will be…unloving” (2 Timothy 3:1, 3). In both instances, Paul wasn’t simply saying that people are unloving. Rather, he was saying people will lack the natural love or affection that family members should have for each other.

17m

Oct 07, 2022

Why does God test us as Deuteronomy 8:2, Psalm 26:2, and other verses describe? Read or listen to this chapter from Enduring Trials God's Way to learn how trials prove your faith! Table of contentsGod Tests Us to Prove Our FaithTrials Test Us and Prove the Genuineness of Our Faith to UsTrials Test Us and Prove the Genuineness of Our Faith to OthersTrudging through the Swamp of DespairTrials Test Us and Prove Genuineness of Our Faith to GodGod Tested IsraelGod Tested HezekiahGod Tested AbrahamQuestions I used to be a school teacher, and now I am a pastor. Both professions involve instructing others. I do not want to sound overly simple, but good teachers provide information people do not already have. If they already knew it, they would not need the instruction! Most letters in the New Testament are instructive. There is the occasional time an epistle will say, “I want to remind you...” but primarily they were written to provide new information. This is why James 1:3 is so unique! In the ESV and NIV it says, “You know that the testing of your faith produces [patience].” James was not teaching something new. He was telling readers what they already understand about trials. They test our faith! There are weaknesses with the English language. One weakness relates to the word “know.” For example, I use the same English word when I say, “I know my dad” as when I say, “I know of Abraham Lincoln.” Obviously, I know my dad much differently than I know President Lincoln. We add the word “of” to differentiate between the types of knowing: knowing someone versus knowing of someone. The Greek word for “knowing of” is epistamai. It means, “To put one’s attention on, fix one’s thoughts on, be acquainted with.” This is knowledge, but with no personal interaction or relationship. The Greek word for “knowing” personally is ginōskō, and it means, “to learn to know, get a knowledge of, feel.”22 This is intimate knowledge. Ginōskō is used in Matthew 1:25 to say, “[Joseph] did not know (ginōskō) [Mary] till she had brought forth her firstborn Son.” Ginōskō is also the word James uses in verse 3 for “knowing.” He tells his readers they know what trials do because they have experienced them before. If you have been through a trial, you also know—they test your faith. God Tests Us to Prove Our Faith Augustine said, “Trials come to prove us and improve us.” This quote identifies the two purposes trials accomplish. We discussed trials improving (maturing) us. Now we will discuss trials proving our faith. Let’s begin with two other important Greek words. Peirasmos is the word for “trials,” and it means, “proving, adversity, affliction, trouble sent by God and serving to test or prove one’s character, faith, holiness.” Dokimion is the word for “testing,” and it means, “the proving; that by which something is tried or proved, a test.” The definitions are similar because trials are tests and tests are trials. Consider the use of both words in James 1:2 and 3: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials (peirasmos), knowing that the testing (dokimion) of your faith produces patience.” Since the words are similar, the verses could say: Count it all joy when you fall into various trials knowing the trying of your faith.Count it all joy when you fall into various tests knowing the testing of your faith. Dokimion only occurs one other time, in 1 Peter 1:6–7, which also contains an instance of peirasmos: In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials (peirasmos), that the genuineness (dokimion) of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. The similarities between James and Peter are strong: James says, “count it all joy,” and Peter says, “greatly rejoice.”James says, “[trials] test your faith,” and, “Peter says,

27m

Oct 04, 2022

Wives, I want you to know how to encourage your husband to lead spiritually. Read or listen to this chapter from Your Marriage God’s Way for godly words of encouragement for your husband. Table of ContentsENCOURAGE YOUR HUSBAND TO LEAD SPIRITUALLY BY EMBRACING HIS LEADERSHIP STYLERECOGNIZE A HEART FOR GOD IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN LEADERSHIP STYLEMAKE YOUR HUSBAND’S SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP EASIERFive Practical Tips to Encourage Your Husband to Lead Spiritually...First, thank your husband when he takes the family to churchSecond, encourage your husband when he prays or reads Scripture with youThird, support your husband with the childrenFourth, avoid needless debateFifth, avoid needless comparisonsBE YOUR HUSBAND’S BIGGEST SUPPORTER Most people who have heard me preach know that wrestling is my favorite sport, and I like to say that it’s God’s favorite sport too. He wrestled with Jacob (Genesis 32:24-26). He warns that we will “wrestle…against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). He wrestles with sinners’ hearts. Most wrestlers will tell you basketball is wrestling’s biggest opponent because the two seasons take place at the same time. One thing basketball has going for it is the movie Hoosiers. Even as a wrestling fan I must admit that it’s a great movie. In the movie, Gene Hackman plays Normal Dale, the new head coach. Nobody knows him, and he’s disliked because he does things differently than the previous coach. Dennis Hopper plays Shooter Flatch, who knows much about basketball, but everyone has written him off because he’s also the town drunk. Coach Dale upsets people even more when he decides to make Shooter the assistant coach. When Shooter shows up at the first game, he’s clean-cut, sober, and wearing a nice suit, but he looks terrified. Coach Dale wants to give Shooter a chance to prove to the townspeople— and more importantly, to himself—that he is valuable, has potential, and can coach. The problem is there’s one thing standing between Shooter and that opportunity, and that’s Coach Dale. A basketball team—like any business, organization, or marriage—can only have one person leading. With one of the most important games on the line, Coach Dale intentionally gets himself kicked out of the game. As he’s about to leave the gymnasium, he walks over to Shooter, hands him the playbook, and says, “It’s up to you now.” The camera zooms in on Shooter’s face, revealing his fear. The team is looking to him to lead them during this crucial moment, but they understandably doubt his ability. Some of the players lower their heads and look at the floor. Shooter didn’t want to be in this position, but Coach Dale removed himself from being in charge, and Shooter had no choice but to lead. He pulled himself together and came up with the game-winning play. Why am I sharing this? This illustrates a key point for us: When wives do as Coach Dale did and remove themselves from leading, they put their husbands in a position where they must lead. Some husbands don’t lead because their wives are already doing so. Other husbands don’t lead because they believe their wives are going to fight whatever decision they make. As a result, they don’t even bother to lead, or they don’t take their responsibility seriously. Some wives say they want their husbands to lead, but what they really mean is “I want my husband to do what I want.” This brings me back to my story about accepting the senior pastoral position at Woodland Christian Church. In that situation, Katie put me in a position to lead. Though Katie encouraged me to take the position, she could see I was hesitant. I remember her saying, “If this move ends up being a mistake and we went there because of me, I couldn’t live with that. The only way I can feel good about this decision is if you make it. I respect your leadership,

20m

Sep 28, 2022

We like God’s grace to us, but we don’t always like God’s grace to others. Grace is unmerited favor. It is undeserved, which means by nature it is unfair. People are being given what they did not work for or earn and that upsets us. We will look at two examples of this in Scripture and then discuss the application for us. https://youtu.be/fPcXHwCBxZ8 We like God’s grace to us, but we don’t always like God’s grace to others. Grace is unmerited favor. It is undeserved. It seems unfair. Table of contentsFamily Worship GuideSermon NotesLesson One: If we don’t understand God’s grace to others we will be (Part One) jealous of what others have.Lesson One: If we don’t understand God’s grace to others we will be (Part Two) discontent with what we have.Lesson One: If we don’t understand God’s grace to others we will be (Part Three) frustrated with others.Lesson One: If we don’t understand God’s grace to others we will be (Part Four) frustrated with God.Lesson Two: Our view of God’s grace to others reveals our understanding of God’s grace to us. Family Worship Guide Directions: Read Luke 15:24-30 and Matthew 20:1-15 and then answer the questions: Day 1: Why would God’s grace to others ever bother us? Why was the older brother so upset with his younger brother? Why was he so upset with his father? Why were some vineyard workers upset with other vineyard workers? Do you think you would be upset in the same situation?Day 2: Why does God have mercy and compassion on some, but not others (look for the answer in Romans 9:17)? Describe the jealousy you can see in the parable of the prodigal son and the parable of the vineyard workers. Do an honest assessment and consider in what areas you are tempted to be jealous of others.Day 3: What areas of your life do you have to resist discontentment? What helps you be content? Can you describe a time you felt frustrated with others because of God’s grace to them? Can you describe a time you felt frustrated with God because of His grace to others? How does our view of God’s grace to us shape our view of God’s grace to others? Sermon Notes On Sunday mornings we’re working our way through Luke’s gospel verse by verse and we find ourselves at Luke 15:30. The title of this morning’s sermon is, “When God’s Grace to Others Bothers Us.” Would you believe me if I told you that we don’t always like God’s grace…at least in other people’s lives? We like God’s grace to us. But we don’t always like God’s grace to others. And why is that? Grace is unmerited favor. It is undeserved, which means by nature it is unfair. People are being given what they did not work for or earn and that upsets us. We will look at two examples of this in Scripture and then discuss the application for us. Last week we made it through verse 29. Look at verse 30… Luke 15:30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ Whenever God spoke to Moses when he was upset with the Israelites he called them, “Your people.” Sometimes spouses do this when they are upset with their children. They talk to their husband or wife and say, “Your son,” or “Your daughter.” That’s pretty much what’s happening here. The older son says, “This son of yours.” He could not bring himself to call him, “my brother.” The older brother was upset about all the grace shown to his younger brother. He knows about the fattened calf and celebration. Wait until he learns about the robe, ring, and shoes. And the whole situation is made even worse by the way the younger brother acted. The older brother said, “He devoured your property with prostitutes.” It’s like he says, “He’s been living terribly, and this is how you treat him?” The older brother wanted his younger brother to be punished, regardless of whether he was repentant. Again, this makes him look like the religious leaders who didn’t like seeing sinners forgiven and shown grace. ...

51m

Sep 26, 2022

Why did God ask Abraham to kill his son? Read or listen to the Introduction to A Father Offers His Son if you've ever wondered, "Why did God ask Abraham to sacrifice Isaac?" Table of contentsFirst, God asked Abraham to Kill His Son, Because He Wanted to Test AbrahamSecond, God asked Abraham to Kill His Son, Because He Wanted a Type of His Son, JesusLet me make three requests for you to keep in mind as you read A Father Offers His Son… First, put yourself in Abraham's placeSecond, put yourself in Isaac's placeThird, look for Jesus I became a Christian in my early twenties. Soon after, I started reading the Bible for the first time. Like many people, I began “in the beginning” at Genesis 1:1. I read some accounts I was already familiar with: creation, the fall, Cain and Abel, and the flood. I did not struggle with much of what I read, not even the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Then everything came to a screeching halt when I read Genesis 22:1-2: Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” I thought, “God made Abraham wait so long for this son. Why would He then make such a cruel request? I can understand God calling down fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, but how could He ask Abraham to sacrifice his own son?” As a new Christian, I did not understand. After careful studying, I realized God did not intend for Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. We know that because the Angel stopped him: “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him (Genesis 22:12a).” If God did not want Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, then what did He want? The answer is twofold. First, God asked Abraham to Kill His Son, Because He Wanted to Test Abraham We read that in the first verse of the chapter. God’s request had never been anything but a test—not to see Abraham sacrifice Isaac, but to see whether Abraham would do it. When Abraham revealed he would obey God’s command, the Angel stopped him. Abraham passed the test, and there was no reason for it to continue. Second, God asked Abraham to Kill His Son, Because He Wanted a Type of His Son, Jesus God wanted to reveal what He would do with His Son two thousand years later. He wants us to understand the sacrifice He made, so He put it in human terms with Isaac as a type of Jesus. Twice the Angel of the LORD commended Abraham for not withholding his son: Genesis 22:12b—(He) said, “For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”Genesis 22:16—(He) said, “Because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son.” God had no intention of Abraham sacrificing Isaac, but this account looked forward to what God had every intention of doing with Jesus. Abraham did not spare his son but was willing to deliver him up, and Romans 8:32 says, “(God) did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Let me make three requests for you to keep in mind as you read A Father Offers His Son… First, put yourself in Abraham's place First, God wants us to appreciate His love for us. So, as you read consider how hard this was for Abraham. When you put yourself in Abraham’s place, you develop some idea of how heart-wrenching it was for God. Do you have a son? What if God made this request of you? Could you offer your son to God if He asked you? Would you be as obedient as Abraham? As you read about the sacrifice Abraham was willing to make, think on the even greater sacrifice God was willing to make and why He was willing to make it—His great love for us: “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Second,

5m

Sep 22, 2022

Psalm 100:2 says, “Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!” This verse doesn’t just tell us to serve the Lord, it tells us HOW to serve the Lord: with gladness. And it is evident the older son in the parable of the prodigal son was not serving the Lord with gladness. Perhaps we don’t always serve the Lord with gladness, so we can learn from him. https://youtu.be/d3Muma2HlCM Family Worship Guide Directions: Read the verses and then answer the questions: Day 1: Luke15:25-29—Why was the older brother angry? What does it reveal about the father when he goes out to minister to his oldest son? How does the father look when he speaks to his oldest son and what similarities does he have with God the Father in His dealing with people?Day 2: Luke 10:40, Psalm 100:2, Matthew 23:25-28—Why does it matter how we serve versus only whether we serve? What are the similarities between the older brother and Martha? Can you think of other people in Scripture who served with a bad attitude? What about examples of people who served with gladness?Day 3: 2 Corinthians 2:5-10, Matthew 18:15-18, 2 Thessalonians 3:15—When you serve, what causes you to feel like a slave? What causes you to feel proud? What causes you to feel sorry for yourself? What can you do when you feel any of these ways to ensure you serve with gladness? Sermon Notes The title of this morning’s sermon is, “We Don’t Serve the Lord with Gladness When….” On Sunday mornings we’re working our way through Luke’s gospel verse by verse and we find ourselves beginning a new section of the parable of the prodigal son. Please stand with me for the reading of God’s Word. We will start at verse 24… Luke 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. 25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. Before we dig into these verses I want to put you in the place of the religious leaders. Listen to this verse… Matthew 21:45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard [Jesus’s] parables, THEY PERCEIVED THAT HE WAS SPEAKING ABOUT THEM. The religious leaders got used to Jesus’s teaching’ making them look bad. As Jesus preached the parables in Luke 15 they had to know He was going to say something about them, because they were the reason he was preaching these parables in the first place. Briefly look back at verse one… Luke 15:1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” But surprisingly, it seemed like He wasn’t going to say anything about them, which they must have thought was wonderful: They listened to the first parable and the shepherd finds his lost sheep and then rejoices. Nothing bad about them.They listened to the second parable about the woman finding the lost coin and then rejoicing. Again, nothing bad about them.They listened to the third parable and the father finds the lost son and then rejoices. Again, nothing bad about them. And considering that each of the previous parables ended when whatever was lost was found and then there was rejoicing, when the father found his lost son and then rejoiced, they must’ve thought, “This is great. Jesus just preached three parables and none of them made us look bad.” But He had a surprise for them. The third parable wasn’t going to end like the p...

48m

Sep 18, 2022

There are prophecies the Messiah would be raised from the dead, but where is the resurrection of Jesus prophecy in the Old Testament? Is there an Old Testament prophecy of resurrection on the third day? Read or listen to this chapter from A Father Offers His Son for answers. Table of contentsJonah Is a Resurrection of Jesus Prophecy in the Old TestamentJonah’s “Death”Jonah’s BurialJonah Was "Raised" on the Third DayHosea Contains a Resurrection of Jesus Prophecy in the Old TestamentIsrael: God’s SonThe Veil and Jesus’ Body TornIsaac Is a Resurrection of Jesus Prophecy in the Old Testament Psalm 16 is a messianic psalm, which means that even though David wrote it, we can read it as though Jesus is speaking. In verse 10, he says, “For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.” Peter quotes this verse in Acts 2:27, and Paul quotes it in Acts 13:35 as prophecies of Jesus’ resurrection. Isaiah 53:10 also prophesies of Jesus’ resurrection: Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him;He has put Him to grief.When You make His soul an offering for sin,He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. Jesus did not have physical children (seed), but He has spiritual children. Isaiah says He will see these children after He has been killed—“bruised… put to grief… [made] an offering.” Jesus would die, but the Father would “prolong His days,” referring to His resurrection. While most Christians know it was prophesied that Jesus would be raised from the dead on the third day, few Christians can find the prophecy in the Old Testament. Why is that? When Jesus fulfilled prophecies, the New Testament often quotes the Old Testament verse that contains the prophecy. For example: Matthew 1:22-23 references Isaiah 7:14—“So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which translates as, ‘God with us.’”Matthew 2:5-6 references Micah 5:2—So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.’”In John 13:18, Jesus referenced Psalm 41:9—“I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’” The difficulty with the resurrection is the New Testament does not quote any Old Testament verse identifying the prophecy that it would take place on the third day. Is it possible there is no such prophecy? No: In Luke 24:46, Jesus said, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day.”In 1 Corinthians 15:4, Paul said, “[Jesus] was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” Jesus said, “It is written” in the Old Testament that He would “rise [on] the third day.” Paul said “the Scriptures” prophesied, not just that Jesus would be raised, but on “the third day.” Where is this prophecy? There are three possibilities. Jonah Is a Resurrection of Jesus Prophecy in the Old Testament The Book of Jonah was written about 760 BC. Almost eight centuries before Jesus was born, Jonah served as an amazing “sign” of His death, burial, and resurrection. When the religious leaders asked for a sign in Matthew 12:39-40, Jesus rebuked them saying: “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Jesus said Jonah served as a “sign” of His death, burial, and resurrection.

18m

Sep 15, 2022

What is a biblical view of sex in a Christian marriage? What does the bible say about withholding sex from your spouse? What threatens enjoyable sex? Read or listen to this chapter from Your Marriage God’s Way for answers. Table of ContentsA BIBLICAL VIEW OF SEXSex in a Christian Marriage Is Blessed by GodSex in a Christian Marriage Is for Enjoyment as Much as for ProcreationSex in a Christian Marriage Is CommandedYour Body Belongs to Your SpouseShould You Ever Abstain?UNDERSTANDING EROSWhat if we lack eros for our spouse?The three of the most common threats to enjoyable sex in a Christian marriageFirst, selfish attitudes threaten enjoyable sexSecond, impurity threatens enjoyable sexThird, mismatched desires threaten enjoyable sexA BIBLICAL VIEW OF SEX SEEKS TO PLEASE THE OTHERA BIBLICAL VIEW OF SEX PLEASES GOD How do we determine the important topics in Scripture? I frequently tell my congregation that God does not use highlighting, italics, boldface, or underlining for emphasis. Instead, He uses repetition when He wants to make sure we don’t miss something. Sexual intimacy is discussed several times in the Old and New Testaments. One entire book—Song of Solomon—is dedicated largely to the topic. When God’s Word addresses a subject repeatedly because it is important, we must make it important in our lives by learning what Scripture has to say. If we don’t do this, we are more likely for our understanding of that subject to be shaped by the world. When it comes to sexuality, we definitely want to know what the Bible teaches, for secular society has a thoroughly corrupt view of it. So let’s take a closer look at God’s intended design for intimacy in marriage, starting with three key truths. A BIBLICAL VIEW OF SEX Sex in a Christian Marriage Is Blessed by God Hebrews 13:4 says, “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” The word “bed” is a euphemism for sexual activity, and within marriage, God calls this activity “undefiled,” which means “pure.” The same New Testament Greek word is used earlier in Hebrews 7:26 to describe Jesus, our High Priest, as “holy, harmless, undefiled.” God wants us to know there is absolutely nothing sinful or compromising about sexual activity between a husband and wife. When it comes to wrong thoughts about sexuality, we typically think of the devil tempting people to disobey the second half of Hebrews 13:4 and engage in sexual activity outside of marriage. But what about when he tempts people to disobey the first half of the verse? He leads them to believe sexual intimacy is defiled, or impure. I once counseled a man in his fifties who was addicted to pornography. I mention his age only because pornography is more typically considered a struggle for young, single men. But it can enslave men—and women—of any age, in any season of life. Let me say up front this man’s actions were sinful; there is no minimizing the wickedness of what he was doing. That said, after months of counseling, it became apparent that one reason for his addiction was a wrong view of intimacy. His mother told him at a young age that sex was filthy, and he was never able to rid himself of that belief. He told me, “I look at porn because at least then I’m not involving my wife in a dirty activity.” Though I tried to convince him otherwise, he never seemed to be able to shake himself free of his mother’s incorrect teaching. In the Song of Solomon, the couple consummate their relationship in chapter 4, and we read of God’s approval in 5:1: “Eat, O friends! Drink, yes, drink deeply, O beloved ones!” This invitation is meant to encourage husbands and wives in their sexual activity. Not only should intimacy in marriage not be thought of as neutral, amoral, or nonspiritual, it should be thought of as good, spiritual, and blessed by God. Sex in a Christian Marriage Is for Enjoyment as Much as for Procreation

31m

Sep 08, 2022

There are many shadows and types of Christ in the Old Testament. If you have ever wondered, "What is a type of Christ in the Bible?" read or listen to this chapter from A Father Offers His Son for answers. Table of ContentsJesus Said the Old Testament Is About HimJesus Is Primarily Revealed Two Ways in the Old TestamentThe New Testament identifies many shadows and types of Christ in the Old TestamentCertain people serve as shadows and types of Christ in the Old TestamentCertain practices serve as shadows and types of Christ in the Old TestamentCertain miracles serve as shadows and types of miracles Jesus would perform in a greater wayShadows and Types of Christ in the Old Testament Serve as a Treasure MapThe Law Reveals Our Need for the SaviorShadows and Types of Christ in the Old Testament Prevent You From Missing the Treasure Many people search for Jesus. In the Bible, we have an account of someone finding Him and recognizing He is the Messiah. The person was Philip and he wanted his friend, Nathaniel, to meet Him too. When Philip spoke to Nathaniel, he revealed why he thought Jesus was the Messiah: “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the Prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (John 1:45). The “Law and the Prophets” was a title for the Old Testament before the New Testament was written. Philip understood the Old Testament was about Jesus, which is why he believed Jesus was the Messiah. He expected Nathaniel to be convinced He was the Messiah as well because he would also recognize Him as the One identified in the Law and the Prophets. Jesus Said the Old Testament Is About Him Luke 24:27—“Beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, [Jesus] expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”Luke 24:44—“[Jesus] said, ‘All things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.’”John 5:39, 46—"You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me...For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me."Hebrews 10:7—“[Jesus said,] ‘Behold, I have come—in the volume of the book it is written of Me.’” Jesus Is Primarily Revealed Two Ways in the Old Testament First, there are prophecies of Him. For example, these verses state He would: Be from the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10)Receive King David’s throne (2 Samuel 7:12-13)Be spat upon and beaten (Isaiah 50:6)Be silent in the face of accusations (Isaiah 53:7)Spend a season in Egypt (Hosea 11:1)Ride into Jerusalem on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9) And the list goes on. And on. And on. Jesus fulfilled around 350 prophecies in His first coming. Shadows and types of Christ in the Old Testament are the second way He is revealed : Hebrews 10:1 says, “The law [was only] a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities” (ESV).Colossians 2:16-17 says a “festival or a new moon or sabbaths [are] a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” “Shadows” are a fitting way to describe the types of Christ in the Old Testament because shadows provide an idea of what something looks like without completely revealing the object. The Old Testament does this with Christ. A shadow is evidence that something is casting it, or in the case of Christ, it is Someone. Finally, nobody looks at a shadow and believes it is the real thing. Nobody sees the shadow of a tree or car and thinks it is a tree or car. Shadows have no substance. They are not the reality. In Colossians 2:17, Jesus is the substance and in Hebrews 10:1, He is the reality. The New Testament identifies many shadows and types of Christ in the Old Testament Matthew 12:40 compares Jesus with Jonah: "For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

15m

Sep 05, 2022

Ephesians 5:1 commands us to, "Be imitators of God [the Father] as beloved children." The parable of the prodigal son gives us a wonderful view of God the Father and reveals how we should be toward others as we imitate Him. https://youtu.be/wgTCm9CmuxA Ephesians 5:1 commands us to, "Be imitators of God [the Father]." The father of the prodigal son reveals how we should be toward others. Table of contentsFamily Worship GuideSermon NotesLesson One: The prodigal son represents repentant sinners passing from death to life.Lesson Two: Forgiveness doesn’t mean no consequences.Lesson Three: Be imitators of God the Father toward (Part One) repentant children.Lesson Three: Be imitators of God the Father toward (Part Two) prodigal childrenLesson Three: Be imitators of God the Father toward (Part Three) repentant sinners. Family Worship Guide Directions: Read the verses and then answer the questions: Day 1: Luke 15:22-24, Ephesians 2:5, John 5:24, John 14:6 cf. Luke 15:17, 24—In what ways does the parable present the prodigal son as a repentant sinner passing from death to life? What is required to pass from death to life? Can you think of other examples in Scripture of individuals passing from death to life?Day 2: Ephesians 5:1, Luke 15:20, Proverbs 22:6—Why might the parable encourage us to think if we are forgiven it means there are no consequences? Is this true, why or why not? Can you think of examples of individuals in Scripture who were forgiven but still suffered consequences from their sins? Can you think of examples in your life of being forgiven but still suffering the consequences of your sin?Day 3: 2 Corinthians 2:5-10, Matthew 18:15-18, 2 Thessalonians 3:15—In what ways can the father in the parable serve as a good example for us toward repentant children? What about toward prodigal children? What about toward repentant sinners? Why should repentant sinners be comforted? What does it mean to warn as a brother but not regard as an enemy? Sermon Notes The title of this morning’s sermon is, “Be Imitators of God the Father Toward….” On Sunday mornings we’re working our way through Luke’s gospel verse by verse and we find ourselves in the middle of the parable of the prodigal son. Please stand with me for the reading of God’s Word. We will start at verse 22… Luke 15:22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. In our last sermon we finished verse 23, and this morning we will look at verse 24. Let me begin by sharing something with you that I could have shared with you last week… I was wrong about my earlier understanding of the prodigal son’s condition. I said the first two parables were about unbelievers, but the prodigal son represents a backslidden believer. But now I’m convinced the prodigal son is as much a picture of a repentant sinner being saved as the lost sheep and lost coin that are found. And I wanted to have a lesson that makes this clear… Lesson One: The prodigal son represents repentant sinners passing from death to life. Part of the reason I came to this interpretation is because of last week’s sermon and everything the father gave to the son. You might remember I said… What the father did with the prodigal son pictures what God the Father does with repentant sinners: He makes us sons and heirs.Everything the prodigal son receives symbolizes what we receive when we become God’s children. The other reason I am convinced the prodigal son is a picture of conversion is verse 24… Luke 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. The father called him my son, even though he said he was no longer worthy to be called a son...

48m

Sep 05, 2022

We see male leadership in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. The pattern began at creation and is maintained with patriarchs, priests, kings, apostles, and elders. If you're wondering, "What does the bible say about leadership?" read or listen to this chapter from Your Marriage God’s Way for answers. Table of contentsFEMALE LEADERS IN THE BIBLE DON'T CONFLICT WITH GOD'S PATTERN OF MALE LEADERSHIPQueensPriestessesProphetessesFIVE REASONS DEBORAH SUPPORTS MALE LEADERSHIP IN THE BIBLEFirst, There’s No Mention of Deborah Being Appointed by GodSecond, Deborah’s Ministry was Private Versus PublicThird, Deborah Encouraged Barak to LeadFourth, Deborah Rebuked Barak for Failing to LeadFifth, the Account Is Descriptive Versus PrescriptiveTHE PATTERN OF MALE LEADERSHIP IN THE BIBLE CONTINUES TODAYTHE REAL QUESTION ABOUT MALE LEADERSHIP I was not raised in a Christian home. While my parents were moral, hardworking, and I learned much from them, they didn’t model gender roles for me as they’re presented in Scripture. This led me to believe men and women are identical regarding their roles and responsibilities. Aside from the obvious, such as not going into the bathroom of the wrong gender or playing on the opposite gender’s sports team—things that tragically our world is even starting to get wrong—I didn’t think of men and women acting much differently from each other. This was even the case when I went through ROTC and then became an Army officer. Except for a few differences, such as lower requirements on the physical fitness tests, I didn’t see men and women facing different expectations or being treated differently. Although I wasn’t a Christian at the time, and even though I couldn’t put my finger on it, there was a nagging suspicion that men, versus women, should lead. You probably have this thought in the back of your mind too. Why is that? Because, as Scripture reveals, God created men to lead. We see that throughout the history of God’s people. The pattern of male leadership began at creation and is maintained throughout Scripture: There were patriarchs instead of matriarchs.The tribes of Israel were named after men.The only legitimate mediators between God and people were men (i.e., priests instead of priestesses).God appointed kings instead of queens.God called men to serve as the focal points of His covenants with mankind (for example, Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus). FEMALE LEADERS IN THE BIBLE DON'T CONFLICT WITH GOD'S PATTERN OF MALE LEADERSHIP So why do we see examples of female leadership in Scripture? What about queens, prophetesses, and at least one female judge—Deborah? Were these women anomalies? Are they examples of rebellion against God’s design, or is there another explanation? To answer these questions, let’s look at them individually. Queens Scripture mentions three prominent queens, and they fall into two categories: evil and good. Jezebel (1 Kings 16-22; 2 Kings 9) and Athaliah (2 Kings 8, 11) were evil women who seized control and became tyrannical leaders. Jezebel instituted the worship of the false god Baal across Israel and persecuted followers of Yahweh. Athaliah murdered her grandchildren upon the death of her son and then seized the throne of Judah. Clearly, neither woman serves as a good example. On the other hand, Esther stands in contrast as a godly queen. We see through the account of her life that she supported male leadership through her submission first to her adopted father, Mordecai, and then to her husband, King Xerxes of Persia. This wasn’t the only factor that allowed her to save her people from annihilation. There was also her courage in going before the king knowing “that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, that he may live” (Esther 4:11). All of this reveals a heart that’s yielded to God.

28m

Sep 01, 2022

We understand the father being glad the son returned home, but what father would give his son the best robe, a ring, shoes, and the huge celebration after living so rebelliously? The son didn't deserve any of this, but grace is when sinful people receive favor they don't deserve. Romans 5:20 says, "The law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace increased all the more." The son's sin increased, but the Father's grace increased more. https://youtu.be/y0eMCF1m4g8 Romans 5:20 says, "Where sin increased, grace increased all the more." The son's sin increased, but the Father's grace increased more. Table of ContentsFamily Worship Guide for Where Sin Increased, Grace Increased All the MoreSermon Notes for Where Sin Increased, Grace Increased All the MoreLesson One: The son was given (Part One) a robe for honor.Lesson One: The son was given (Part Two) a ring for authority.Lesson One: The son was given (Part Three) shoes for sonship.Lesson Two: The son’s sin increased, but the Father’s grace increased more.Lesson Three: Humility makes us recipients of God’s grace. Family Worship Guide for Where Sin Increased, Grace Increased All the More Directions: Read the verses and then answer the questions: Day 1: Luke 15:22, Matthew 18:18, Hebrews 1:2, Romans 8:16-17, Galatians 3:29, Titus 3:7, Ephesians 1:11, John 17:22—Describe how the father addressed the servants. Why did he speak to them this way? Considering the father is a picture of God the Father in what ways does this encourage you? What does the robe signify? What about the ring? The shoes?Day 2: Luke 15:23, Psalm 40:2, 103:2, Romans 5:20—Why did the father call for a celebration? Do you think the father’s behavior toward his son looks exaggerated? Why or why not? What application does this have for us (think about us being joint heirs with Christ)? What does this mean: “Where sin increased, grace increased all the more”?Day 3: James 4:6, Hebrews 12:15, Proverbs 3:34, 1 Peter 5:5—What are trespasses; how are they different from other sins? Can we earn God’s grace? Explain your answer. What can make us recipients of God’s grace? What can cause us to forfeit God’s grace, or as Hebrews 12:15 says, fail to obtain it? Why do you think Warren Wiersbe said God’s grace, versus his love, save sinners? Do you agree or disagree? Sermon Notes for Where Sin Increased, Grace Increased All the More The title of this morning’s sermon is, “Where Sin Increased, Grace Increased All the More.” On Sunday mornings we’re working our way through Luke’s gospel verse by verse and we find ourselves in the middle of the parable of the prodigal son. Please stand with me for the reading of God’s Word. We will start at verse 16… Luke 15:17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. In our last sermon we finished verse 21, and this morning we will pick up at verse 22. But first notice the confession the son had planned… Luke 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.

50m

Aug 29, 2022